Bhoys will not risk Brown

Celtic have told Scott Brown they will not gamble on his long-term fitness in the clash with Dynamo Moscow.

Last Updated: 04/08/09 9:32am

Celtic have told Scott Brown they will not gamble on his long-term fitness in the UEFA Champions League showdown with Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday.

The Scotland international missed the 1-0 defeat at Parkhead in the first leg of their third qualifying round clash as he was still not fully fit following summer ankle surgery.

Brown managed 60 minutes of the weekend friendly against Sunderland and joined his team-mates on their flight to Moscow from Glasgow airport on Monday.

But the key midfielder has been warned he will not be risked by Tony Mowbray despite the millions on offer should the Bhoys overturn their one-goal deficit and book a place in the lucrative Champions League group stages.

First-team coach Peter Grant believes it is more important to have Brown available for the majority of the campaign, rather than risking an early setback.

"It's a big season for Scott and for us all," Grant told the Daily Record.

Adrenalin

"He was playing with injections at the end of last season and we saw what happened to him. We have to be careful we don't shoot ourselves in the foot.

"Adrenalin is great and it can get you through the first game but we have to careful we don't lose him as he's a big, big player for us and will be throughout the season.

"We know his enthusiasm and he'll be chapping at the door to play. But we have to look at when the time is right to use him.

"Should he start or should we bring him on? That is what we have to assess and we'll speak to the boy and see how he feels.

"As I said, adrenalin got him through his first game against Sunderland but it's the second and third ones you need to be careful with.

"He will say he is fine and a fully-fit Scott Brown walks into your team because of what he brings. But it's a big season and we need to have our best players available."